Detergent composition

ABSTRACT

A DETERGENT COMPOSITION IS FORMULATED THAT IS RELATIVELY CALCIUM INSENSITIVE AND CAN EFFECTIVELY BE USED WITH MANY BUILDERS. THE DETERGENT COMPOSITION CONSISTS ESSENTIALLY OF THE WATER-SOLUBLE SALTS OF FROM 40% TO 55% ALKENE-1SULFONATE, FROM 20% TO 40% 2-ALKOXY ALKANE-1-SULFONATE WITH THE ALKOXY RADICAL CONTAINING FROM ONE TO FOUR CARBON ATOMS, FROM 10% TO 20% OF 3- AND 4-HYDROXY ALKANE-1-SULFONATE AND FROM 2% TO 15% ALKENE DISULFONATE ALL BY PERCENTAGE WEIGHT. THE CARBON CHAIN LENGTHS OF THE ABOVE SULFONATES ARE ALL FROM 10 TO 20 CARBON ATOMS LONG. THE ALKENE DOUBLE BOND OF THE ALKENE1-SULFONATE AND ALKENE DISULFONATE IS DISTRIBUTED BETWEEN THE TERMINAL AND THE FIFTH AND THE SEVENTH CARBON ATOMS, RESPECTIVELY. A PREFERRED BUILT DETERGENT COMPOSITION CONSISTS ESSENTIALLY OF THE ABOVE DETERGENT COMPOSITION AND A BUILDER SALT IN THE RATIO OF DETERGENT TO BUILDER OF FROM 10:1 TO 1:10.

Int. Cl. Clld 3/65 US. Cl. 252-535 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A detergent composition is formulated that is relatively calcium insensitive and can effectively be used with many builders. The detergent composition consists essentially of the water-soluble salts of from 40% to 55% alkene-lsulfonate, from 20% to 40% 2-alkoxy alkane-l-sulfonate with the alkoxy radical containing from one to four carbon atoms, from 10% to 20% of 3- and 4-h'ydroxy alkane-l-s-ulfonate and from 2% to alkene disulfonate all by percentage weight. The carbon chain lengths of the above sulfonates are all from 10 to carbon atoms long. The alkene double bond of the alkenel-sulfonate and alkene disulfonate is distributed between the terminal and the fifth and the seventh carbon atoms, respectively. A preferred built detergent composition consists essentially of the above detergent composition and a builder salt in the ratio of detergent to builder of from 10:] to 1:10.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to novel detergent compositions which offer excellent overall performance characteristics. It also relates to built detergent compositions. The built detergent compositions are useful in light-duty and heavyduty cleaning situations.

The need for improved detergent compositions is a continuing one. The search for such compositions receives a great deal of attention by the chemical and allied industries. Countless new surface active materials have been and are being prepared of which only a relatively few may eventually be found suitable for commercial use as detergent materials in applications such as toilet bars, dishwashing compositions, as well as lightduty and heavy'duty built laundering compositions. Relatively so little is known about the complex nature of detergency and the role which a detergent plays in a cleaning process that the element of predictability is to which surface active compounds will work well and which will not, is almost negligible.

Special attention is given to the preparation of detergent compounds which are useful in dishwashing and laundering compositions. These applications are generally referred to by such terms as light-duty and heavyduty." These terms as applied to detergency have acquired fairly definite meanings in the art.

Light-duty applications are those such as the hand washing of dishes and lightly soiled fine fabrics which fabrics cannot as a rule withstand the vigorous treatment of machine laundering. Also, light-duty washing situations are those which generally call for a gentle washing action in cool or lukewarm water. It is well known by those skilled in the art that compositions designed for such uses must have certain performance properties which distinguish them from heavy-duty cleaning compositions. For instance, they must be mild to the skin, possess high sudsing properties, and also possess cleaning power in water solutions having cool or lukewarm temperatures, e.g., below 100 F.

The term heavy-duty applications are those cleaning situations in which heavily soiled articles are encountered. Considerations in such cleaning processes inice clude the use of vigorous mechanical action usually in hot water having temperatures below about F. up to about 200 F. Moreover, the problems presented by high soil loads or fabrics such as cotton are unlike those dealt with in light-duty situations. As a result, heavyduty detergent compositions must be specially formulated.

In the formulation of heavy-duty" built detergent laundering compositions, the most valuable detergents are those which combine effective cleaning ability with superior whiteness maintenance results. Cleaning pertains to the removal of soil from soiled articles. whiteness maintenance is a term which is used to measure the ability of an aqueous solution of a detergent composition to keep suspended in the solution, soil which has been removed during the washing process.

There has long been a need for a built detergent composition which can be used with superior effectiveness in both light-duty and heavy-duty cleaning situations. This implies, of course, satisfactory performance in washing solutions where temperature ranges anywhere from about 50 F. up to about 200 F. and higher. Literally thousands of active detergent compounds have been tried, alone and in combination with other detergents and builders, as well as other detergent aids such as sequestering agents in order to satisfy this need of longstanding. For the most part, such attempts have not been satisfactory.

Of particular importance is the need for a detergent composition that efiiciently cleans without the need of the commonly used phosphorous-containing builder salts. Sequestrant builder salts such as sodium tripolyphosphate (STP) are normally included in built detergent compositions partly for the purpose of sequestering hardness ions, especially calcium, that are found in water. In the absence of these sequestrant builders a water-insoluble hardness ion salt of the detergent is often formed. This water-insoluble salt will be deposited on the laundered fabrics and as a result, will adversely affect the overall cleaning performance of the detergent. Recent fears of the effect of ST P and other phosphorous-containing sequestrant builders on the ecology have caused a great amount of research in the area of finding a suitable replacement. Most replacements to date have not been as good as STP with regard to preventing the formation of the water-insoluble salt of the detergent. This absence of a fully satisfactory replacement for S1"? has, accordingly, led some to look for a detergent that is better able to perform properly with other known builders. Preferably the novel detergent would be relatively calcium insensitive, i.e. would not form a water-insoluble salt with the calcium found in the water. In this way the detergent could be used in a heavy-duty application without the need of a builder or with builders considered to have weak sequestering properties. Unfortunately, the complex nature of how a detergent ,works has made the search for an effective detergent very difficult.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved detergent composition which has ex-- cellent overall detergent properties.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an active detergent composition which is outstandingly suitable for light-duty and heavy-duty cleaning applications as described above.

Another object is to provide a built detergent composition containing an active detergent ingredient and a builder ingredient which provides excellent performance results when used in a washing solution having a temperature which can be between about 50 F. up to about 200 F.

Still another object is to provide a less expensive, more efiicient built detergent composition than the best commercially available compositions.

A still further object of this invention is to formulate a detergent composition that when used in combination with a builder possessing weak sequestering properties results in a built detergent composition that performs efficiently.

These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description.

All percentages used hereinafter in the specification and claims are by weight unless otherwise specified.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A novel detergent composition is formulated consisting essentially of:

(a) From 40% to 55% of a water-soluble salt of alkene-l-sulfonate Containing from to 20 carbon atoms and having the alkene double bond distributed between the terminal carbon atom on which the sulfonate radical is attached and about the fifth carbon atom;

(b) From 20% to 40% of a water-soluble salt of 2- alkoxy alkanel-sulfonate containing from 10 to 20 carbon atoms in the alkane chain and from 1 to 4 carbon atoms in the alkoxy radical;

(c) From 10% to 20% of the water-soluble salts of 3- and 4-hydroxy alkane-l-sulfonates containing 10 to 20 carbon atoms; and

(d) From 2% to of a water-soluble salt of alkene disulfonate containing from 10 to carbon atoms and having one sulfonate radical attached to a terminal carbon atom, the other sulfonate radical attached to a carbon atom not more than three carbon atoms removed from said terminal carbon atom and the alkene double bond distributed between said terminal carbon atom and about the seventh carbon atom.

The above detergent composition can form part of a built detergent composition consisting essentially of the detergent above noted and a builder salt in a detergent to builder ratio of from 10:1 to 1: l0.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a novel detergent composition. The detergent composition consists essentially of the water-soluble salts of from 40% to 55% alkene-1- sulfonate, from 20% to 40% 2-alkoxy alkane-l-sulfonate, from 10% to 20% of 3- and 4-hydroxy alkane-l-sulfonate, and from 2% to 15% alkene disulfonate having the parameters as set out more fully hereinafter.

The components of the present detergent composition are produced either individually and thereafter combined in the prescribed proportions or are produced concurrently by the process described in commonly assigned concurrently filed herewith copending patent application Ser. No. 188,590, entitled Process for the Preparation of Sulfonated Detergent Composition by Herbert C. Smitherman.

It is necessary to include each of the above mentioned four components in order for the detergent composition to possess the overall outstanding detergent properties discovered and provided for by the present invention. Preferred percentage ranges by weight for the water-soluble salts of this invention are from 40% to 45% alkene-1- sulfonate, from 30% to 40% 2-alkoxy alkane-l-sulfonate, from 10% to 15% 3- and 4-hydroxy alkane-l-sulfonate, and from 2% to 8% alkene disulfonate. The total percentage of the 2-alkoxy and 3- and 4-hydroxy alkane-lsulfonates in this preferred composition is equal to or greater than the percentage of the alkene-l-sulfonate.

Each of the components will now be more fully described as to their properties.

The water-soluble salt of the alkene-l-sulfonate of this invention contains from 10 to 20 carbon atoms in its chain and where the alkene double bond is between the terminal carbon atom and the second carbon atom, has the formula CH (CH CH=CI-ISO M where x=7-17 and M represents any cation that forms a water-soluble salt su h as al al me als, e-ssod um a p a si and ammonium, and substituted ammonium compounds, e.g. alkylammonium and alkylolammonium compounds. Specific examples of substituted ammonium compounds are mono-, diand triethylammonium, mono-, diand trimethylammonium, and mono-, di-, and triethanolammoniurn. Others will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The preponderant proportion of the alkene-I-sulfonates of this invention have the double bond distributed between the terminal carbon atom on which the sulfonate radical is attached and the fifth carbon atom. However, there can be present minor amounts of other double-bond positional isomers. Such minor amounts of alkene-l-sulfonates having the alkene double bond more internally than the fifth carbon atom, i.e. less than 10% by weight do not materially affect the detergent properties of the composition.

The above alkene-l-sulfonate, for which the formula is given, can be prepared readily by dehydrochlorinating a 2-chlorosulfonic acid derivative. A fairly detailed description of a suitable preparative route appears in an article in the Journal of Organic Chemistry, vol. 1949, p. 46,.

written by J. D. Rose and A. Lambert. The starting step for the synthesis is a reaction between a long chain epoxide and sodium bisulfite to produce a 2-hydroxy-1- sulfonate derivative of the particular long chain epoxide. This reaction product is condensed with PCl to prepare the aforementioned 2-chlorosulfonic acid derivative which in turn is reacted with sodium carbonate to yield an alphabetaunsaturated compound. This method is merely illustrative of one synethesis that can be used. Any other suitable method can be used.

The other preferred alkene-l-sulfonates wherein the alkene double bond is located between the second and third, third and fourth, and four and fifth carbon atoms can be prepared by the thermal dehydration of hydroxy sulfonates. According to the reaction set out immediately below, the thermal dehydration of the sodium salt of 3- hydroxy-sulfonate results in the preparation of a reaction mixture containing alkene-l-sulfonates having the double bond located between the second-third and third-fourth carbon atoms.

Similarly a reaction mixture of alkene-l-sulfonates containing the alkene double bond located between the thirdfourth and fourth-fifth carbon atoms can be prepared by using a 4-hydroxy-sulfonates as the starting material.

The foregoing synthesis of the alkene-l-sulfonate follows closely the well known dehydration of an organic alcohol as is mentioned in such standard texts as Whitmores Organic Chemistry, second edition, pp. 39-41.

There is no need to separate the reaction products of the above two dehydration reactions. The reaction product can be formulated directly into a detergent composition according to the present invention. They can be separated into pure forms, if desired, though not necessary.

The water-souble salt of 2-alkoxy alkane-l-sulfonate has the formula where R is an alkyl group having from 8 to 18 carbon atoms, R is an alkyl group having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms and M=a salt forming cation as above described with regard to the alkene-l-sulfonates. This compound can be prepared by the method described in US. Pat. 3,346,628. As described therein a straight chain alphaolefin is reacted with a sulfur trioxide/dioxane complex to form an acid mix which is subsequently reacted with an alcohol. The resultant compounds are then neutralized and subsequently isolated in the normal manner. The material obtained is a mixture of compounds, one of which is the 2-alkoxy alkane-l-sulfonate. This compound can be s p rated from the other comp unds by column chromatography. The above described method of obtaining the alkoxy compound is merely illustrative of one way of synthesizing the said compound. The alcohol used in the above reaction is a lower alcohol, i.e. an alcohol having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms. Examples of such alcohols are methanol, ethanol, n-propanol, isopropanol, n-butanol, and isobutanol. The preferred Z-alkoxy alkane-l-sulfonates of this invention are Z-methoxy and 2-ethoxy-a1kane-1- sulfonate wherein the alkane chain contains from to carbon atoms.

The 3- and 4-hydroxy alkane-l-sulfonate component of the present detergent composition is a mixture of saturated aliphatic compounds. A minor amount of unsaturation can be included in this mixture but preponderantly the compounds are all saturated. The 3- and 4-hydroxy alkanel-sulfonates of this invention contain from 10 to 20 carbon atoms, have the sulfonate radical located on a terminal carbon atom, and have the hydroxy radical attached to the third or fourth carbon atom. The formula for 3-hydroxy alkane-l-sulfonate is RCH(OH)Cl-I CI-I SO M where R is a C alkyl group and M represents a salt-forming cation as described above with regard to the alkene-l-sulfonate. The 4-hydroxy alkane-l-sulfonate is, of course, similar to the immediately above described compound with the hydroxyl group attached to the fourth carbon atom from the sulfonate radical. It has been discovered that the situs of the hydroxyl group in the compounds is an especially important factor. For instance, if a major proportion of the hydroxy alkane-l-sulfonate component of the present detergent composition contains compounds where the hydroxyl group is attached to the carbon atom adjacent the sulfonated carbon atom, i.e. a 2-hydroxy alkane l sulfonate, the detergency properties of said detergent composition is decreased.

The detergent composition of this invention can tolerate hyroxy alkane-l-sulfonates wherein the hydroxyl group is attached along the carbon chain at positions other than the 3- and 4-position provided such compounds do not constitute more than 10% of the hydroxy alltane-l-sulfonate component.

The 3- and 4-hydroxy alkane-l-sulfonates can be prepared by the free radical addition of sodium bisulfite to the corresponding 3- or 4-hydroxy-l-olefin, respectively. The hydroxy olefin for use as the starting material in the preceeding free radical addition reaction can be prepared by well known organic-metallic reactions, e.g. involving an aldehyde and a Grignard reagent in which R and R are organic radicals and Y is a halogen. For example:

Other Grignard reagents can be used in the example above as well as other methods for producing the subject compounds.

The particular amounts of 3-hydroxy alkane-l-sulfonate and 4-hydroxy alkane-l-sulfonate relative to each other is not important. That is, a preponderance of either the 3- or 4-hydroxy alkane-l-sulfonate works eminently well in this invention.

The water-soluble salt of alkene disulfonate of this invention has one sulfonate radical attached to the terminal carbon atom. The second sulfonate radical is attached to an internal carbon atom that is not more than three carbon atoms removed from the said terminal carbon. Minor amounts of compounds can be included in which the second sulfonate radical is more internally than the fourth carbon, provided they do not exceed 10% by weight of the disulfonate component of the instant composition. The carbon chain length of the alkene disulfonate is from 10 to 20. The cation of this compound is the same as above described in connection with the alkene-l-sulfonate.

The alkene double bond of the disulfonates is preponderantly distributed between the terminal carbon atom and the seventh carbon atom. That is, less than 10% by weight of the alkene disulfonates have the double bond more internally than the seventh carbon atom. The alkene disulfonates as just described can be prepared by any of several known methods.

The novel detergent composition of the present invention is useful per se as an excellent detergent. As aforementioned the carbon chain length of the alkene and alkane sulfonates contain from 10 to 20 carbon atoms. It is preferred, however, to have the compounds contain from 14 to 18 carbon atoms in the sulfonated alkene and alkane chains. It is not necessary that each of the compounds contain the same number of carbon atoms. Mixtures of different chain lengths can be used. It is only necessary that the number of carbon atoms in each alkene and alkane sulfonated chain be within the prescribed limits of 10 to 20 or preferably 14 to 18.

The above components are included in the detergent composition of this invention in the above stated percentages to achieve maximum performance. Thus from to 55% alkene-l-sulfonate, 20% to 40% 2-alkoxy alkane-l-sulfonate, 10% to 20% 3- and 4-hydroxy alkanel-suifonate, and 2% to 15% alkene disulfonate makes up a very satisfactory detergent composition in the context of the instant invention. An alkene-l-sulfonate content greater than 55% results in a detergent having relatively poorer performance as does percentages of 2-alkoxy al kane-l-sulfonate below 20%, 3- and 4-hydroxy alkane-lsulfonate below 10% and alkene disulfonate above 15% and below 2%. Detergent compositions containing proportions greater than 40% 2-alkoxy alkane-l-sulfonate or 20% of the hydroxy alkane-l-sulfonates are not materially efiected in terms of detergency thereby. However, for purposes of cost considerations, the alkoxyand hydroxyalkane-l-sulfonate percentages are kept within the prescribed limits of this invention.

in the preferred detergent compositions of this invention the amounts by weight of the described components are as follows: from 40% to alkene-l-sulfonate;

from 30% to 40% 2-alkoxy-alkane-l-sulfonate; from 10% to 15% 3- and 4-hydroxy alkane-l-sulfonate, and from 2% to 8% alkene disulfonate, all having the same carbon chain lengths and characteristics as described above. In this preferred detergent composition, the amount of alkene-l-sulfonate is less than or equal to the total percentage of alkoxyand hydroxy-alkane-l-sulfonates in order to obtain eminently satisfactory detergency.

The following examples illustrate the detergent compositions of the present invention wherein the percentages are by weight.

EXAMPLE I Percent Sodium l-hexadecene-l-sulfonate 40 Sodium Z-methoxy hexadecane-l-sulfonate 25 Sodium 3-hydroxyhexadecane-l-sulfonate 15 Sodium 4-hydroxyhexadecane-l-sulfonate 5 Sodum l-hexadecene-l,4-disulfonate 15 EXAMPLE II Percent Sodium l-decene-l-sulfonate 28 Sodium 2-decene-1-sulfonate 20 Sodium Z-butoxydecane-l-sulfonate 40 Sodium 3hydroxydecane-l-sulfonate 5 Sodium 4-hydroxydecane-l-sulfonate 5 Sodium 4-decene-1,3-disulfonate 2 EXAMPLE HI Percent Ammonium 4-eicosene-l-sulfonate 55 Ammonium Z-ethenoxyeicosane-l-sulfonate 20 Ammonium 3-hydroxyeicosane-l-sulfonate l5 Ammonium 4-hydroxyeicosane-l-sulfonate 5 Ammonium 7-eicosene-1,2-disulfonate 5 The detergent compositions of Examples I-III exhibit excellent cleaning power when used alone or in combination with a builder salt.

Mixtures of the above compounds containing carbon chain lengths of 10 to 20 carbon atoms also perform eminently well as do other water-solubilizing salts thereof such as potassium, triethylammonium and triethanolammonium.

Other anionic as well as nonionic, zwitterionic or ampholytic surfactants can be used in varying proportions with the detergent system of this invention.

The detergent compositions of the present invention are especially useful in admixture with other materials to form complete formulations. Such complete formulations are prepared commercially in several forms including granular, flake, liquid, and tablet forms. More especially, the detergent compositions of the present invention are combined with water-soluble builder compounds to provide built detergent compositions.

Many builder compounds (examples of which are set out below) are used with the detergent composition of this invention. The weight ratio of builder to the detergent composition of this invention is from 10:1 to 1:10, preferably from 1:2 to 1:5.

Examples of suitable water-soluble, inorganic alkaline detergency builder salts are alkali metal carbonates, borates, phosphates, polyphosphates, bicarbonates, and silicates. Specific examples of such salts are sodium and potassium tetraborates, perborates, bicarbonates, carbonates, tripolyphosphates, pyrophosphates, orthophosphates and hexametaphosphates.

Examples of suitable organic alkaline detergency builder salts are: (1) water-soluble aminopolycarboxylates, e.g., sodium and potassium ethylenediaminetetraacetates, nitrilotriacetates and N-(2 hydroxyethyl) nitrilodiacetates; (2) water-soluble salts of phytic acid, e.g., sodium and potassium phytates-see US. Pat. 2,739,942; ('3) watersoluble, polyphosphonates, including specifically, sodium, potassium and lithium salts of ethane-l-hydroxy-Ll-diphosphonic acid, sodium, potassium and lithium salts of methylene diphosphonic acid, sodium, potassium and lithium salts of ethylene diphosphonic acid, and sodium, potassium and lithium salts of ethane-1,l,2-triphosphonic acid. Other examples include the alkali metal salts of ethane-Z-carboxy-1,1-diphosphonic acid, hydroxymethanediphosphonic acid, carbonyldiphosphonic acid, ethane-1- hydroxy-l,1,2-triphosphonic acid, ethane-2-hydroxy-l, l ,2-

triphosphonic acid, propane-1,1,3,3-tetraphosphonic acid, propane-1,1,2,3-tetraphosphonic acid, and propane-122,3- tetraphosphonic acid; (4) water-soluble salts of polycarboxylate polymers and copolymers as described in the copending application of Francis L. Diehl, Ser. No. 269,359, filed Apr. 1, '1963, now Pat. No. 3,308,067. Specifically, a detergent builder material comprising a water-soluble salt of a polymeric aliphatic polycarboxylic acid having the following structural relationships as to the position of the carboxylate groups and possessing the following prescribed physical characteristics: (a) a minimum molecular weight of about 350 calculated as to the acid form; (b) an equivalent weight of about 50 to about 80 calculated as to acid form; (c) at least 45 mole percent of the: monomeric species having at least two carboxyl radicals separated from each other by not more than two carbon atoms; (d) the site of attachment of the polymer chain of any carboxyl-containing radical being separated by not more than three carbon atoms along the polymer chain from the site of attachment of the next carboxyl-containing radical. Specific examples are polymers of itaconic acid, aconitic acid, maleic acid, mesaconic acid, fumaric acid, methylene malonic acid, and citraconic acid and copolymers with themselves and other compatible monomers such as ethylene; and (5) mixtures thereof.

Mixtures of organic and/or inorganic builders can be used and are generally desirable. One such. mixture of builders is disclosed in US. Pat. 3,392,121 issued to Burton H. Gedge IH wherein ternary mixtures of sodium tripolyphosphate, sodium nitrilotriacetate and trisodium thane-1-hydroxy-1,l-diphos honate are disclosed. The

above described builders can also be utilized singly in this invention.

In addition, other builders can be used satisfactorily such as water-soluble salts of citric acid, mellitic acid, i.e. benzene hexacarboxylic acid, pyromellitic acid, benzene pentacarboxylic acid, oxydiacetic acid and oxydi succinic acid.

It will also be understood that the compositions of this invention may contain adjuvants, diluents, and additives inclusive of germicidal agents, anti-tarnish agents, antiredeposition agents, bactericidal agents, dyes, and fluorescers without detracting from the advantageous proper ties of the composition.

The following examples illustrate the built detergent compositions of this invention.

EXAMPLE IV Percent Detergent composition of Example I 60 Sodium tripolyphosphate 6 Sodium sulfate 21" Sodium silicate (SiO :Na O ratio=2.0) 5 Water 8 EXAMPLE V Percent Detergent composition of Example I 5 Sodium citrate 50 Sodium sulfate 25 Sodium silicate (SiO :Na O ratio=2.0) 10 Water 10 EXAMPLE VI Percent Detergent composition of Example II 18 Hexasodium salt of benzene hexacarboxylic acid 50 Sodium sulfate 23 Sodium silicate (SiO INa O ratio=2.0) 6 Water 3 The built detergent compositions of Examples IV-VI perform well as a laundering composition exhibiting excellent soil removal and whiteness maintenance.

The builder compounds found in Examples IV-VI above are illustrative of the many builders that can be used in combination with the detergent compositions of this invention. Builder compounds listed above in combination with the detergent compositions of this invention also give a satisfactorily built detergent composition.

The following example is illustrative of a liquid detergent composition especially useful for dishwashing applications.

EXAMPLE VII Percent Detergent composition of Example H 15 Potassium pyrophosphate 5 Potassium toluene sulfonate 7 Water 73 What is claimed is:

1. A detergent composition consisting essentially of:

(a) from 40% to 55% of a water-soluble salt of alkene-l-sulfonate containing from 10 to 20 carbon atoms and wherein the alkene double bond is distributed between the terminal carbon atom on which the sulfonate group is attached and the fifth carbon atom;

(b) from 20% to 40% of a water-soluble salt of 2-alkoxy alkane-l-sulfonate containing from 10 to 20 carbon atoms in the alkane chain and from 1 to 4 carbon atoms in the alkoxy radical;

(c) from 10% to 20% of the water-soluble salts of 3- and 4-hydroxy alkane-l-sulfonate containing from 10 to 20 carbon atoms; and

(d) from 2% to 15% of a water-soluble salt of alkene disulfonate containing from 10 to 20 carbon atoms and having one sulfonate radical attached to a terminal carbon atom, the'other sulfonate radical altached to a carbon atom not more than three carbon atoms removed from said terminal carbon atom and the aikene double bond distributed between said terminal carbon atom and the seventh carbon atom.

2. The detergent composition of claim 1 wherein less than 10% by weight of the alkene1-sulfonate contains the alkene double bond more internally than about the fifth carbon atom.

3. The detergent composition of claim 2 wherein less than 10% by weight of the alkene disulfonate has a doublel bond more internally than about the seventh carbon atom.

4. The composition of claim 3 wherein the 2-a1koxy alkane-l-sulfonate has from 14 to 18 carbon atoms in the alkane chain and the alkene-l-sulfonate, 3- and 4-hydroxy alkane-l-sulfonates, and alkene disulfonate all contain from 14 to 18 carbon atoms.

5. The detergent composition of claim 4 wherein the alkoxy radical contains from 1 to 2 carbon atoms.

6. The composition of claim 3 which consists essentially of from 40% to 45% of the alkene-l-sulfonate, from 30% to 40% of the 2-alkoxy alkane-l-sulfonate, from 10% to 15% of the 3- and 4-hydroxy alkane-l-sulfonates, and from 2% to 8% of the alkene disulfonate and wherein the total percentage of the 2-alkoxy and 3- and 4-hydroriy alkane-l-sulfonates is equal to or greater than the percentage of the alkene-l-sulfonate.

7. The detergent composition of claim 6 wherein the 2-alkoxy alkane-l-sulfonate has from 14 to 18 carbon atoms in the alkane chain and the alkene-l-sulfonate, 3- and 4-hydroxy alkane-l-sulfonates, and alkene disulfonate all contain from 14 to 18 carbon atoms.

8. The detergent composition of claim 7 wherein the alkoxy radical contains from 1 to 2 carbon atoms.

9. A built detergent composition consisting essentially of the detergent composition of claim 1 and a builder in the weight ratio of detergent composition to builder of from 10:1 to 1:10.

10. The built detergent composition of claim 9 wherein the builder is selected from the group consisting of the water-soluble salts of citric acid, benzene pentacarboxylic acid, and benzene hexacarboxylic acid.

References Cited' UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,332,880 7/1967 Kessler et al 252-636 3,523,089 8/1970 Garrett 252-555 JOHN D. WELSH, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 

